Azure Striker Gunvolt: A different perspective

Chapter 8

As I woke up, everything was a blur, and I seemed to be getting carried into our apartment. I groaned as I noticed a powerful headache, as If I had too much of that fancy stuff Zeno brought back once.

I suddenly got to my feet, startling GV, who was carrying me. I turned to him.
"Where is Eliese?" Gunvolt chuckled. "Can you care about yourself for once? That's what got us into this."

I frowned at GV. "I'm not apologizing. I'd do it again." Gunvolt smiled. "I know."

I suddenly laughed, finding humor in this. GV turned to me. "I had no idea what I was doing, and I still beat you." My laughter abruptly ended as I realized something. "I used the glaive. Shouldn't I have exploded, or something?" Gunvolt nodded. "If we'd have beaten you, yeah, but whoever that was, he fixed that for us."

I then moved to Zeno, who was carrying my sleeping girlfriend, who gently set her down, turned around, and promptly slapped me in the face.
"What the hell was that!?" Zeno was glaring at me. I glared right back. "I helped her, Zeno. I would do it again, and for any one of you."

His glare softened. "You really do care about her, dont you?"

"He does. Even though it makes him do stupid things, sometimes." I looked to my now awake girlfriend, rushing over immediately.

I hugged her tightly, asking her if she was alright. She only laughed. "You wanna know if I'm ok? You're the one that got hurt the most."

"It's alright. I can take a little bit of pain." I then kissed her nose. "I'm more worried about you, and I'd help you in a heartbeat, whatever the cost."

I turned to GV. "The man that took away my Septima? He is not our friend. For whatever reason, he is collecting Glaives. We don't know how many he has total, but we can't let him get any more."

Gunvolt raised an eyebrow. "So we're protecting the swordsman now? Kinda difficult because, y'know, they want to kill us."

Zeno spoke up. "He didn't seem like the main man, either. There's more than just him." GV then interjected, "Also, what are they to Sumeragi? Are they even aware?"

I spoke up. "I have a mission idea. What if you could go undercover? Infiltrate this mystery group?" GV nodded thoughtfully. "How do we get their attention, then? They only seem to want Septima." I smirked. "Exactly. You, Azure Striker, are going to offer yours in exchange for a spot in their organization."

Zeno spoke up. "I can get a helicopter take you to the roof of the biochemical plant, where a powerful adept is." I nodded.

"It's settled then. Rest up for tomorrow, everyone. Good luck!"

Time skip to the helicopter ride. Now GV'S POV.

As the helicopter set down on the roof, I arrived in time to see that man from before, in front of a kneeling Viper. He was talking.

"Looks like your flame just got snuffed out."

Viper only smiled. "Fury doesn't die, demon. And I am fury itself. You don't even know how screwed you are. Final Flame!" Viper's eyes burned with fury, his hair catching on fire. Shadow's eyes widened, but he couldn't get back fast enough.

Viper grinned one last time. "Fuck you, demon." Then Viper exploded in a ball of searing fire, Shadow being thrown backwards, towards me. He didn't notice me yet as he got up.

He was shaking angrily. "That fool! That's one Septima I can't get back..." I announced my presence. "I have an offer, than." He whirled around, and looked at me with a smirk. "How is it any different then if I rip it out myself?"